Eurotopics.net

Kazakhstan is widely regarded as Russia's silent ally. But now its president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has called on Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine. At a summit in Omsk, Russia, at which both leaders were present, he urged Putin to freeze the conflict, adding that the causes of the war, which has resulted in heavy losses for both sides, was incomprehensible.

The Polish opposition party PiS has split following months of conflict between party leader Jarosław Kaczyński and former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The break-up came after Morawiecki and his supporters rejected an ultimatum to pledge loyalty to the party leadership, with the result that more than 30 MPs have now left the party. The backdrop is disagreements over the party's direction in the run-up to the general election in 2027.

On Monday, Andy Burnham, the UK's new Prime Minister, made his inaugural speech outside 10 Downing Street in London. He announced plans for radical changes to the economic and political system, with decentralising government, reducing the cost of living, boosting the economy and easing the burden on the social welfare system as key goals. The press reacts with hope and scepticism.

A man died during a police operation in Bologna on Sunday. Video footage shows the 42-year-old being restrained by officers face-down on the ground for several minutes while crying out for help. On Monday, thousands of people gathered to protest in Bologna. Scepticism about the police officers' conduct prevails in the commentaries.

In Portugal, the introduction of a new digital marking system for school-leaving exams has caused chaos. Students received their results much later than usual and were unable to apply for university or had no time to prepare for retakes. Commentators speculate on the conservative government's role in the reform and what other factors may have exacerbated the problems.